For menopausal women, does taking hormonal therapy increase the risk for breast cancer?
The concern for a connection between Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and breast cancer is a complex and frequently misunderstood subject. Reports in the media are often sensationalized and misleading. For example: In July 2002 the initial findings of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) showed a 20% increase in breast cancers in women taking a combination of estrogen and progestin when compared to the placebo group. In a panic, many women stopped their HRT. Unreported was a group of women taking estrogen alone, which did not show an increase. Seven-year followup, published Fall 2004, actually showed a decrease in breast cancers. Hormone therapy may increase the chance of certain women to have a blood clot or stroke. The choice to start HRT is one that should be individualized and based upon a thorough discussion of risks and benefits. The patient and her physician will explore both her personal and family histories in detail. In addition to treating menopausal symptoms, HRT has been s
